Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (82)

4/22/2012 – Historical chess photographs are not always treated as sacrosanct, and the Editor
of Chess Notes shows
examples of how they have been fabricated, doctored and airbrushed. He examines,
in particular, the odd case of a group photograph taken during the Carlsbad,
1907 tournament. Three different versions have been found, with various individuals
eradicated for no discernible reason.

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Chess Explorations (82)

By Edward Winter

Facts in chess history and lore are often distorted and doctored, but so too,
occasionally, are photographs. A familiar case concerns the picture of Alekhine
and Capablanca supposedly taken during their 1927 world championship match in
Buenos Aires:

Airbrushing and doctoring may even occur in a group photograph and seemingly
without reason. In C.N. 5685 Philippe Kesmaecker (Maintenon, France) drew attention
to this pair taken at Carlsbad, 1907:

Subsequently, C.N. 5722 reproduced two good-quality scans received from Per
Skjoldager (Fredericia, Denmark). That item was able to give the three versions
below. They came, respectively, from a) page ix of Das Internationale Schachmeisterturnier
in Karlsbad 1907, b) opposite page 445 of the October 1907 BCM and
c) opposite page 257 of the September 1907 Deutsche Schachzeitung:

As Mr Kesmaecker remarked, the figures in the background progressively disappear.

He also mentioned the existence on the Internet of a slightly different shot
of the group (with, for example, Janowsky in profile), and we added that a copy
of that one (also with much airbrushing) is in the plates section of Maróczy
Géza élete és pályafutása by József Szily (Budapest, 1957):

Chess Notes is well known for its historical research, and anyone browsing
in its archives
will find a wealth of unknown games, accounts of historical mysteries, quotes
and quips, and other material of every kind imaginable. Correspondents from
around the world contribute items, and they include not only "ordinary readers"
but also some eminent historians – and, indeed, some eminent masters. Chess
Notes is located at the Chess
History Center.Signed copies of Edward Winter's publications are
currently available.

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Video

The Elephant Gambit (1.e4.e5 2.Nf3 d5!?) has never really been given the attention it deserves. It is a very useful surprise weapon. Let us list the advantages of playing this particular opening: 1) Shock value 2) It is very aggressive. Black can take over the initiative early. 3) Many tricky lines 4) Unorthodox. Black is basically taking the game to the opponent as early as move two. Not many openings do that! It's a perfect opening for young players and club players to adopt. Let Andrew Martin select a repertoire for you on this 60 mins, which, if used with discretion, will rack up the points. I am sure that you will enjoy this unusual tour of the Elephant Gambit.